EP0215600B1 - Improvements in or relating to watering indicators for plants - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to watering indicators for plants Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0215600B1
EP0215600B1 EP86306731A EP86306731A EP0215600B1 EP 0215600 B1 EP0215600 B1 EP 0215600B1 EP 86306731 A EP86306731 A EP 86306731A EP 86306731 A EP86306731 A EP 86306731A EP 0215600 B1 EP0215600 B1 EP 0215600B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hygroscopic
indicator
layer
watering
base member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86306731A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0215600A3 (en
EP0215600A2 (en
Inventor
Albert Crowther
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CROWTHER DISPLAY Ltd
Original Assignee
CROWTHER DISPLAY Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CROWTHER DISPLAY Ltd filed Critical CROWTHER DISPLAY Ltd
Priority to AT86306731T priority Critical patent/ATE60840T1/en
Publication of EP0215600A2 publication Critical patent/EP0215600A2/en
Publication of EP0215600A3 publication Critical patent/EP0215600A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0215600B1 publication Critical patent/EP0215600B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N31/00—Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroup; Apparatus specially adapted for such methods
    • G01N31/22—Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroup; Apparatus specially adapted for such methods using chemical indicators
    • G01N31/222—Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroup; Apparatus specially adapted for such methods using chemical indicators for investigating moisture content

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a watering indicator for plants.
  • the indicator is intended to be inserted into the soil surrounding a plant in order to indicate the moisture content thereof.
  • Such indicators have previously been proposed and in particular British Patent No. 2059077 discloses one form of indicator in which a base member is coated with a layer of hygroscopic material substantially over its total surface area.
  • the hygroscopic layer changes from an opaque to a translucent state in the presence of water.
  • the layer of hygroscopic material is provided with a discontinuity which effectively prevents moisture travelling up the hygroscopic layer for passage to the atmosphere.
  • the discontinuity acts as a seal along the upper edge.
  • said upper side edges of the hygroscopic layer are sealed by means of adhesive tape. Accordingly, the upper end of the indicator is sealed on both its upper edge and its side edges.
  • a transparent window is applied over the hygroscopic layer at the upper end of the indicator so that any change in the colour of the hygroscopic material can be observed.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an indicator of the type disclosed in British Patent 2059077 but in which the aforesaid disadvantage is obviated or mitigated.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3951098 shows a watering indicator device having a housing structure encapsulating an elongated wick which surrounds but does not touch a layer of moisture- sensitive, colour-changeable material.
  • the housing comprises two peripherally sealed moisture- impervious walls comprising the housing, there being provided vents in said walls.
  • a watering indicator for plants or the like comprising a base member adapted to be inserted into a medium to be monitored; a layer of hygroscopic material carried by said base member and adapted to vary in visual character in the presence of water in the medium; viewing means overlying at least a portion of said hygroscopic layer for observing variation in the character thereof and venting means provided to permit loss of water located in the hygroscopic layer between viewing means and the base member, characterised in that said venting means comprises a portion or portions of the hygroscopic layer which extend to all free edges of the viewing means.
  • the viewing means is provided with a first window area displaying constant colour for enabling ready comparison with a second window area displaying a portion of the hygroscopic layer which is subject to colour variation.
  • a watering indicator for plants comprises a coloured base strip 4 of synthetic plastics material, the lower end of the strip being pointed to facilitate insertion into the soil.
  • a layer 5 of hygroscopic material which, as shown best in Fig. 2, extends continuously from the pointed lower end of the strip 4 to the upper edge 4a of the strip 4 and also laterally to the two side edges 4b of the upper portion of the strip.
  • Discontinuous or discrete areas 6 from which the hygroscopic layer has been removed or omitted are provided towards the upper end of the strip 4 and to these discontinuous areas which are free from hygroscopic material is adhesively secured a transparent viewing window or film 7 of any suitable material e.g.
  • the window 7 can be provided with any suitable design. Through the window 7 there can be viewed the hygroscopic layer. A small area 8 of one or more of the areas 6 which are free of hygroscopic material is also left free of adhesive so that the colour of the base strip 4 can be viewed through the window 7 at this location. This permits a ready visual colour comparison between the area 8 and that portion of the hygroscopic layer 6 which is viewed through window 7 and which will, of course, change its character e.g. colour, dependent upon whether the layer 5 is wet or dry.
  • the lower pointed end is inserted into the soil or other growing medium to be tested so that the lower part of the hygroscopic layer 5 is in contact with the soil. If water is present, water travels upwardly through the layer 5 by capillary action and the hygroscopic material changes from an opaque whitish colour to a translucent form which allows the colour of the base strip to be viewed through the window 7 as the water travels up the indicator. Due to the fact that the hygroscopic layer 5 extends continuously to the upper and side edges of the indicator and thereby allowing evaporation through vents 5a, the indicator gives a true indication that water is present in the soil and not as a result of residual water being retained in the indicator itself.
  • Any suitable hygroscopic material can be employed for the purposes of the present invention.
  • One such suitable hygroscopic material is calcium hydroxide in a liquid carrier.
  • examples of other hygroscopic materials which may be used are magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and paper.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By The Use Of Chemical Reactions (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Non-Biological Materials By The Use Of Chemical Means (AREA)
  • Suspension Of Electric Lines Or Cables (AREA)
  • Drying Of Gases (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Cleaning Of Streets, Tracks, Or Beaches (AREA)
  • Supply Devices, Intensifiers, Converters, And Telemotors (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
  • Mushroom Cultivation (AREA)

Abstract

The invention is a watering indicator for plants or the like, said indicator comprising a base strip 4 which carries a hygroscopic layer 5. The hygroscopic layer 5 can be viewed to ascertain the presence of water in the medium being monitored and means (5a, 9) is provided to permit the viewed hygroscopic layer 5 to vent to atmosphere.

Description

  • This invention relates to a watering indicator for plants. The indicator is intended to be inserted into the soil surrounding a plant in order to indicate the moisture content thereof.
  • Such indicators have previously been proposed and in particular British Patent No. 2059077 discloses one form of indicator in which a base member is coated with a layer of hygroscopic material substantially over its total surface area. The hygroscopic layer changes from an opaque to a translucent state in the presence of water. At its upper end the layer of hygroscopic material is provided with a discontinuity which effectively prevents moisture travelling up the hygroscopic layer for passage to the atmosphere. The discontinuity acts as a seal along the upper edge. In order to prevent evaporation from the sides of the upper portion of the layer, said upper side edges of the hygroscopic layer are sealed by means of adhesive tape. Accordingly, the upper end of the indicator is sealed on both its upper edge and its side edges. A transparent window is applied over the hygroscopic layer at the upper end of the indicator so that any change in the colour of the hygroscopic material can be observed.
  • It has been found that the arrangement as described in British Patent No. 2059077 has the disadvantage that because the upper portion is sealed to the atmosphere in order to prevent evaporation of water travelling up the indicator, the indicator can in fact give an incorrect reading. This is due to the fact that the sealing of the upper end of the indicator traps and retains water moisture at said upper end and a favourable reading can be given suggesting that the soil being tested is adequately watered when, in fact, the actual soil surrounding the plant at the lower end of the indicator is dry and requires watering.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an indicator of the type disclosed in British Patent 2059077 but in which the aforesaid disadvantage is obviated or mitigated.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3951098 shows a watering indicator device having a housing structure encapsulating an elongated wick which surrounds but does not touch a layer of moisture- sensitive, colour-changeable material. The housing comprises two peripherally sealed moisture- impervious walls comprising the housing, there being provided vents in said walls.
  • According to the present invention there is provided a watering indicator for plants or the like comprising a base member adapted to be inserted into a medium to be monitored; a layer of hygroscopic material carried by said base member and adapted to vary in visual character in the presence of water in the medium; viewing means overlying at least a portion of said hygroscopic layer for observing variation in the character thereof and venting means provided to permit loss of water located in the hygroscopic layer between viewing means and the base member, characterised in that said venting means comprises a portion or portions of the hygroscopic layer which extend to all free edges of the viewing means.
  • Preferably also, the viewing means is provided with a first window area displaying constant colour for enabling ready comparison with a second window area displaying a portion of the hygroscopic layer which is subject to colour variation.
  • An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
    • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a watering indicator in accordance with the present invention;
    • Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the indicator; and
    • Fig. 3 is a side view of the indicator shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Referring to the drawings, a watering indicator for plants comprises a coloured base strip 4 of synthetic plastics material, the lower end of the strip being pointed to facilitate insertion into the soil.
  • One face of the base strip 4 is coated with a layer 5 of hygroscopic material which, as shown best in Fig. 2, extends continuously from the pointed lower end of the strip 4 to the upper edge 4a of the strip 4 and also laterally to the two side edges 4b of the upper portion of the strip. Those portions 5a of the layer 5 which extend to the upper and side edges 4a and 4b respectively act as vents to allow water travelling up the layer to evaporate to the atmosphere. Discontinuous or discrete areas 6 from which the hygroscopic layer has been removed or omitted are provided towards the upper end of the strip 4 and to these discontinuous areas which are free from hygroscopic material is adhesively secured a transparent viewing window or film 7 of any suitable material e.g. a synthetic plastics material. If desired, the window 7 can be provided with any suitable design. Through the window 7 there can be viewed the hygroscopic layer. A small area 8 of one or more of the areas 6 which are free of hygroscopic material is also left free of adhesive so that the colour of the base strip 4 can be viewed through the window 7 at this location. This permits a ready visual colour comparison between the area 8 and that portion of the hygroscopic layer 6 which is viewed through window 7 and which will, of course, change its character e.g. colour, dependent upon whether the layer 5 is wet or dry.
  • In operation of the indicator, the lower pointed end is inserted into the soil or other growing medium to be tested so that the lower part of the hygroscopic layer 5 is in contact with the soil. If water is present, water travels upwardly through the layer 5 by capillary action and the hygroscopic material changes from an opaque whitish colour to a translucent form which allows the colour of the base strip to be viewed through the window 7 as the water travels up the indicator. Due to the fact that the hygroscopic layer 5 extends continuously to the upper and side edges of the indicator and thereby allowing evaporation through vents 5a, the indicator gives a true indication that water is present in the soil and not as a result of residual water being retained in the indicator itself.
  • Any suitable hygroscopic material can be employed for the purposes of the present invention. One such suitable hygroscopic material is calcium hydroxide in a liquid carrier. Examples of other hygroscopic materials which may be used are magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and paper.

Claims (4)

1. A watering indicator for plants or the like comprising base member (4) adapted to be inserted into a medium to be monitored; a layer (5) of hygroscopic material carried by said base member (4) and adapted to vary in visual character in the presence of water in the medium; viewing means (7) overlying at least a portion of said hygroscopic layer (5) for observing variation in the character thereof and venting means (5a) provided to permit loss of water located in the hygroscopic layer (5) between the viewing means (7) and the base member (4), characterised in that said venting means comprises a portion or portions (5a) of the hygroscopic layer which extend to all free edges of the viewing means (7).
2. A watering indicator as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the viewing means (7) is provided with a first window area (8) displaying constant colour for enabling ready comparison with a second window area displaying a portion of the hygroscopic layer which is subject to colour variation.
3. A watering indicator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the hygroscopic material comprises calcium hydroxide.
4. A watering indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the viewing means (7) comprises a sheet of transparent material secured at discrete locations to the base member (4).
EP86306731A 1985-09-09 1986-09-01 Improvements in or relating to watering indicators for plants Expired - Lifetime EP0215600B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86306731T ATE60840T1 (en) 1985-09-09 1986-09-01 WATERING INDICATOR FOR PLANTS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB858522294A GB8522294D0 (en) 1985-09-09 1985-09-09 Watering indicators for plants
GB8522294 1985-09-09

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0215600A2 EP0215600A2 (en) 1987-03-25
EP0215600A3 EP0215600A3 (en) 1987-12-23
EP0215600B1 true EP0215600B1 (en) 1991-02-06

Family

ID=10584907

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86306731A Expired - Lifetime EP0215600B1 (en) 1985-09-09 1986-09-01 Improvements in or relating to watering indicators for plants

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0215600B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6259843A (en)
CN (1) CN86106168A (en)
AT (1) ATE60840T1 (en)
AU (1) AU592590B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3677438D1 (en)
DK (1) DK427486A (en)
ES (1) ES2003090A6 (en)
FI (1) FI863591A (en)
GB (1) GB8522294D0 (en)
NO (1) NO863578L (en)
NZ (1) NZ217450A (en)
ZA (1) ZA866657B (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63175851U (en) * 1987-05-02 1988-11-15
GB2247951B (en) * 1990-09-17 1994-11-09 Cowell Ltd W S Indicating devices in combination with plants
DE29801385U1 (en) 1998-01-30 1998-03-26 Boxser, Daniel, London Plant label for plants
US6698378B1 (en) * 2000-09-12 2004-03-02 Sud-Chemie Inc. Irreversible humidity indicator cards
FR2881229B1 (en) * 2005-01-25 2007-05-11 Airsec Soc Par Actions Simplif DEDICATING SUPPORT COMPRISING A HUMIDITY SATURATION INDICATOR
US11639918B2 (en) * 2017-09-08 2023-05-02 Cabinotier Co., Ltd. Soil, moisture indicator, water detection unit used in soil, moisture indicator, body case, manufacturing method for water detection unit, and manufacturing method for soil moisture indicator

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3019638A (en) * 1959-11-02 1962-02-06 William F Klein Moisture indicating device
US3824844A (en) * 1973-05-11 1974-07-23 Water Rite Inc Soil moisture monitor
US3951098A (en) * 1975-02-12 1976-04-20 Enviro-Gro, Inc. House plant water content indicator
US4201080A (en) * 1976-11-24 1980-05-06 Bernard Slepak Moisture indicator
GB2059077B (en) * 1979-09-26 1984-01-25 Martin C Plant watering indicator device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6259843A (en) 1987-03-16
DK427486A (en) 1987-03-10
AU592590B2 (en) 1990-01-18
CN86106168A (en) 1987-03-11
NO863578D0 (en) 1986-09-08
EP0215600A3 (en) 1987-12-23
EP0215600A2 (en) 1987-03-25
FI863591A0 (en) 1986-09-05
AU6240186A (en) 1987-03-12
FI863591A (en) 1987-03-10
DE3677438D1 (en) 1991-03-14
NO863578L (en) 1987-03-10
NZ217450A (en) 1988-09-29
DK427486D0 (en) 1986-09-08
ZA866657B (en) 1987-04-29
GB8522294D0 (en) 1985-10-16
ES2003090A6 (en) 1988-10-16
ATE60840T1 (en) 1991-02-15

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